Bottle capping machine



March 2, 1937. w. R. CUTHBERT ET AL BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 2, 1937. w. R. CUTHBERT ET AL 2,072,245

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 by G M M March 1937} w. R. CUTHBERT ET AL 2,072,245

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A3 I J M I i 475- $6 March 1937- w. R. CUTHBERT ET AL 2,072,245

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 7 4 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2.072.245 I I norms 'carrlne' mcnmn 'Wiiliama. .Cuthbert and Paul Mmidell, Fort Madison, Iowa, assignors-tto W.-A. Sheafler Ion Company, Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Ap lication August 14, 1933, Serial No. $51012 16 Claims; (01. eat-.88)

inventionrlates toa bottle capping mav chine and has special reference to a device having means for directing a cap on to the neck of abottle or other container andfor tightening the cap thereon. V

Moreparticularly, this invention has reference 6 to adevice for, capping bottles or other containers provided wlth'threads at thev openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, com-- prising a hopper for holding a plurality of caps with means for retainingsuccessive capsthere;

from in the path of movementof bottles which latter have longitudinal movement of abase on which the hopper isgmounted, there being re- 15 silient means acting. onthe caps to hold the caps against'rotation. although permitting a. slidable longitudinal movement thereof with saidbottles; and other frictional means for imparting a rotatable as well as longitudinal movement of said .bottles along thevbase in a direction to tighten the caps on the bottles.

Ap licants contemplate the provision of an a paratus which is not positive in character, permitting slippage'of the caps and bottles, de;

, g pending upon the relative adjustment therebetween after the cap has ben screwed home on the bottle, the particular advantage being that the bottles niaytbe handled at any desired rate' of speedfand may fluctuate at the rate of speed fed therethrough without any adjustment being made to the machine.

rly advantageous in the use of the apparatus inconnection with other machines: such, for example; as bottle filling niachines. 'The rate of 5 .sped of bottlefllling machines is not, of course,

standard with all machines. Therefore, the present apparatusima'y accommodate *bottles at the rate of thirty a minute or at the rate of ninety a minute without adjustment, the rate--of speed 0 {being "either constant or fluctuated. This also is particulaiil'y sadvantageousin the handling of bottlesmanually, since noconstant speed of op eration' is maintained.

y The device herein contemplated may be motor 4;; driven or manually operated, desired, the drive shaft actuating preferably an endless belt running longitudinally of. the "machine, which belt. has a series of adjacently disposed gripping .iingers-which may be formed of leather, rubber, to or the like, preferably such material, as will pro- ..vide suflicient friction for operating .upon the sides'of; the bottles; The bottles pass between the gripping fingers of the endless chain-and an adjustable'=supporting barlwhich likewise extends 55 1ongitudinallyand substantially parallel there- This feature is particuwith; the bar being pa ed s01 as to provide'ror the required degree of friction between the gripv D fin ers and the bottle.

p The belt imparts-a rotatable and longitudinal movement of the bottles in'the path. of successive 5 caps fed at anangle' adjacent the, top or neck of the bottle, the bottl'epassing beneath and engaging the peripheryof the; interior of the cap andipulling the cap from itsiposition in resilient gripping fingers in the hopper; The caps are thereafterr urged againsflthe neck of the bottle by resilient flngers bearing against the tops of the caps, and" the caps are held stationary relative to the rotatable movement of the bottle by frictional means such assa pairpf spaced bars,,one of which I bars is adjustably mounted o, obtain "a desired degree of friction; Aftenthe cap has been screwed home. on the bottle, th'e frictionalresistance is overcome during they rest of itstravel over the base of the machine whereby'the capProtates with the bottle. r

One of theobjects of this invention is to provide a bottle capping'inachine of the character above described in which the operation is not positive, the cap and. bottle being given a relative movement byirictional means, which relative movement is arrested when the cap is screwed,

.home on the bottle. a

Another object of this invention is to provide a bottle cappingmachin'e of the type hereinabove noted which maybe employed in connection'with other types of apparatus. irrespective of therate .of speed 'bf-travelpf the bottles therethroughand through the present apparatus.

N A still u rizher object of, this "invention is to: v provide a ottle capping machine as above pointed out which is comparatively ine rpensivein construction is simple in operation, and is-durable.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out and for" a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description when taken to ether with e accompanying drawingsin which latter: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a; device embodying the features of this invention;

Fig.2 is a top plan view oflffigure 1;' v

Fig. 3 is a plan sectionalview taken on the-line 3-3 of Figure 1 Fig. 4. is anenlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on theline l-{of Fig. 2; Fig. .5 is an underneath plan view taken on the line 5-5 ,of Fig.. 4; I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged yertical' transverse see 5 tional view taken on the. line 6-- 6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is an underneath plan view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the draw-- ings, the device. of this invention comprises a base l0 having end standards II and I2 secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. The

standards are preferably in the form of inverted U-shaped bands having laterally extending feet 10 through which latter bolts or screws extend into the base l0. A'pair of spaced bars 13 and 14 extend longitudinally of the base in a spaced relation therefrom and are secured atthe outere'nds thereof to the vertically extending sides or arms of the inverted U-shaped standards II and I2. In the specific embodiment shown, these bars l3 and II are substantially flat and rectangular in cross section, the ends thereof being twisted to present the flat surfaces in a vertical plane for attachment to the supports, the fiat faces of the main body portions or intermediate portions thereof being substantially'horizont A motor I 5 is preferably provided for the operation of this deviceand is mounted on the cross bars- I3 and I 3 intermediate the ends thereof. The motor isconnected to a pulley l6 of a' drive shaft I! by means of an endless belt l8,

the drive shaft I! being journalled in a bearing l'la suitably mounted on a bracket l9'which lat- 30 ter is supported by the standard I 2.

Thejdriveshaft I! extends-perpendicularly of the machine, the lower end thereof being journalled in a suitable bearing on.the base I 0. A sprocket .20 is fixedlymounted on the-lower end of the drive shaft I! for engaging an endless sprocket chain 2!, whihlatter extends longi tudinally of the machine'and engages a second, sprocket 22'adjacent the other end of the ma- The sprocket22 is, in turn, fixedly chine. 40 mounted on a stud shaft 23 which" extends perpendicularly of the base, one end of the shaft' being journalled in a bearing on the base l0 and the otherend being journalled in a bearing 23,

which latter is suitablyimounted as by means of metallic supports 25a secured to the linksof the chain 2l. 65 Inasmuch as the chain 2| is flexible, a backing "member 26 is provided for retaining the links of the chain together with thegripping fingers fixedly secured thereto in substantiallongitudinal alignment, the backing member being preferably 0 in the form of an elongated-'bar'having at least one flat face in front against-which the links ofthe chain'rest bar 26 is suitably supported on a second ban 21, which latter is mounted on the base II. The fiat face 0f the bar 26 extending 65 holds the links of the chain 2| in a position to maintain the front engaging surface of the fingers 25 in agvertical position to uniformly engage over :the entire surface thereof, the vertically extend-' '70 ing side walls of the-bottles. 7 However, if the .side walls-ofthe bottles. to be capped are at an,

angle to the vertical, then it is readily apparent that the'faces of the (gripping fingers 125 may likewise be disposed angularly to thvertical in conformit'y'tti antleof the wall ofthe'bottle machine and bea gagement.

substantially vertically of the plane f the se chine for feedingcaps 42 to a position for engagebyprovidlng the flat face of the bar 26-with such angularity as exists in the walls of the botties. The engaging surfaces of the fingers 25 thus lie in a single longitudinal plane for uniform engagement with the bottles passing through the machine.

erably comprise a metallic strap 28 extending v longitudinally of the machine and supported on a plurality of cross members 29, which latter slidably engage supports 30 mounted on the base l0. The supports 30 may preferablybe provided with set screws 3| extending therethrough for engagement with the cross members 29 to'hold the latter in a fixed relation with the supports after adjustment of the former to a desired position. The space between the faces of .the fingers 25 and the inner face of the strap 28 is determined, whereafter the set screws 3| when screwed home hold the same in that position. The bottles 32in the present instance comprise a main body portion having a reduced threaded neck 33, thereby providinga shoulder at the juncture thereof. The shoulder thus provided is utilized for holding'thebottle against displacement in position on the base, a pair of spaced arms 34 and 35 having the lower edges thereof resting on portions of the shoulders, The arm 34 extends longitudinally of the machine and is suitably supported at'the ends-thereof, the rod bearing against a portion of the shoulder of the bottle 32 to prevent displacement upwardly there of. A strap 35 gxtends longitudinally of the r against the shoulder of the bottle 32 on an opposite side to that of the rod 34, the strap 35 being mounted on pins 36 extending through bearing portions of aplurality of uprights 31. The uprights 31 are, inturn, secured to the lower ends thereof to-the strap 28. The

strap 353s preferably adjustable laterally of the. machine in order to compensate for garying sizes lug longitudinally of the machine and journalled in bearings 40 on the base of the machine holds the bottle from jamming into the fingers 25 ofv the endless belt and permits of a required 1110-. tionalengagement therebetween. The outer perimeter of the rod 33 is substantially flush with I the face of the fingers 25, when in frictional en- A hopper is. provided at one end of the ma- 'ment with the bottles 32. The caps 42; in this course; to be understood that thishopper maybedisengage'd from the machine and formed of a separate unit, although ,for convenience of illustration and preference in construction, the hopper has merelybeen-snown as beingsupported by'the most accessible element thereof;

. The hopper may be of any usual type,it merely comprising in the present instance an enclosure of a size suiiicient to permit thejcaps to pass therethrough by gravity, the hopperbeing. given an inclination; sufilcient to permit a free passage and movement therethrough. A resilient forked finger 43v is preferably seeu'red to the lpwer-end of the hopper on the underneath side'thereofythe forks of the fln gen being' spaced a-distance less than the outside diameter of the caps "although sufficiently to permit the neck ,of the bottle to pass freely therebetween. Anotherlspring finger 1.5 44 is preferably secured-to the upper side\ of the lower end of the hopper a spaced distance from the finger 43,-both fingers extending beyond the upper and lower sides of the hopper. The fingers 43 and 44 converge and in their normal condition are spaced so as to prevent the release ofla' cap therefrom except by a force greater than the weight of the cap, the cap resting on the spaced fingers 48 and being held thereagainst by spring finger 44. The ,positioning of the fingers is such movement of the bottle 32 and at ja' height from the base suincient for the.neck3.3 of the bottle to engage the inner and lower peripheral portions of the cap, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. I v

A longitudinal movement of the bottle 32 brings the neck of the bottle, into engagement with-the cap, whereafter a continued longitudinallrnove The free end ofthe spring extends in a direction toward the hopper and terminates adjacent to the end of the resilient finger 44. The spring 45 is reinforced by springs 41 and 48 bearing thereagainst on the, upper surface thereof, the spring 411 being secured to the cross bar 46 and the spring 48 being secured to asecond cross bar '49 lying transverselypf the machine andbeing supported by the bars l3and' It. The cap 42 thus is urged downwardly on the neck of the bottle: by means of the spring 45 as supplemented by the action of the springs 4'! and 48,to insure a 5 uniform pressure th'roughout the travel of the cap longitudinally of the machine.

After the cap- 42 is placed in engagement with the neck 33 of the bottle 32 and is urged downwardly thereon by means of the aforesaid springs,

'the'cap is then in condition for' being. screwed home on .the bottle 32. The bottle continues its longitudinaland rotatable movement on the base Ill, the cap engaging between'bars Stand 51. The .bar 5| is disposed just above the strap 35 65 and extends longitudinallyi of the machine, the ends thereof being bent upwardly as at 52 and 53 to engage the underneathls'ide of the bar 13 to which the ends are fixedly attached. The depending intermediate portion of the bar 5| is preferably of substantially the same height as the peripheral height of the cap of the bottle, the bar being preferably offmetal to frictionally engage-the-cap and holdthe same against move-' ment excepting undersubstantial tension in its as to hold the cap" at an angle in the patliwof cooperation with the bar-50. Thebar 5B Iextends longitudinally of the ma chinetfor' engagement with tlie .other side of the cap for. cooperation with the bar 5|, as above statedg to hold the cap: frictionally against rotation exceptingunder sub- I stantial' tension. The bar 50 is preferably 5 mounted on a bar 54 which is adjustable laterally, of the machine, the bar 54 operating in a- 'slot 55 between. spaced arms 56 and 51 secured'to an intermediate bar 58, Thegbar 54 is spring pressed outwardly of its engaging, slot 55i the tension of 10' springs 59 being adjustable :by means of suitable bolts and nuts or in any other desired manner.

The specific embodiment shown in the, drawings I comprissa plurality of spaced bolts, the shanks of which are loosely inserted "through apertures in thebar 58 and extend to threadedly engage registering apertures in theibar 54, the heads of the bolts limiting the normal spring pressed out: ward movement of the bar 54 although permitting a; compression of the spring and subsequent inyvardmo'vemeht of the shanks and bar 54. I The arm 56 is secured, to the bar !4 through a spacer 60 by means of bolts BI and the ban-50 occupies a position at the periphery of the'cap.

Sufficient spring tension is set to prevent a 'rotation of the cap 42between the bars 50 and Siexcepting under substantial tension. Therefore, as the bottle rotates progressively longitudinally of the machine," the cap 42 being held stationary and the threads thereof engaging the threads on the neck of bottle, the cap is tightened on the bottle through this relative movement therebetween. When the cap is threaded home then suflicient resistance is had to cause a slippage between the cap 42' and the cooperating frictional bars 50 and 5| to the end that possibly but a few turns of the bottle in a'short distance of travel screws the cap home. This slippage between the 'cap and the. cooperating bars 50 and 5i continues until the bottle passes out of the machine. 7

' While but a. single embodiment of this invene tion-is herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to, thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit arid scope of this invention and, therefore, the sameiis only to be 'limited by the scope of the prior artand thev appended claims. We claim:

1. In a device for capping bottles'or other containers provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, means for positioning said caps on said bottles for threaded engagement, frictional )means for holding said caps againstrotation, and frictional means for rotating said bottles to provide relative movement of said caps and bottles when engaged in a direction to tighten said capsr 2. In a device for capping bottles or other containers provided'with threads at the openings 6 thereof for engagement with threaded caps, fric tional means for holding said caps against rotation and permitting a longitudinal mbvement thereof when engaged by said bottles; and an endless belt for imparting rotatable and longid tudinal movement to said bottles, said rotatable movement being in a'direction to tighten said' caps on said bottles. V

3. In a device for capping bottles or other containers provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, frictional means for holding said capsagainst rotation and permitting a longitudinal movement thereof when engaged by said bottles, a base for supporting a plurality of said bottles, and frictional means for engagement with" the sides of said bottles for imparting rotatable and longitudinal movement to said bottles, said rotatable movement being in a directionfto tighten said caps on said bottles. I

4. In a device for capping bottles or other containers providedwith threadsgat the openings thereof forengagement with threaded caps, frictional means for holding said caps against rotamounted on spaced pulleys on one side of said thereof for engagement with threaded caps, fric-- tional means for holding said caps against rotation and permitting a longitudinal movement thereof, a base for supporting a plurality of said bottles, a longitudinally extending endless belt mounted on spaced pulleys on one side of said base, said belt having frictional means thereon, means for rotating one of said pulleys to operate said belt, and adjustable means on the other side of said base, said bottles being frictionally engaged between the frictional means 'of said belt and said adjustable means to have rotatable and longitudinal movement over said base, said rotatable movement being in a direction to tighten said caps on said bottles.

6. Ina device for capping bottles or other containers-provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, frictional means for holding said caps against rotation and permittinga longitudinal movement thereof, a base for supporting a plurality of said bottles, a longitudinally extending endless belt base, means for rotating one of said pulleys to operate said belt, and a bar adjustable laterally of saiddevice on the other side of said base and extending longitudinally thereof, means on said belt for frictionally engaging said bottles on one side thereof for imparting a rotatable and longitudinal movement ,thereto, said bar urgin a d bottles in position againstsaid belt and permitti'ng a slidable engagement of said bottles on said bar, said rotatable movement being in a direction to tighten said ;caps on said bottles.

7. In a device for capping bottles or other containers provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, fricr tional means for holdingfsaid caps against rota tion and permitting a longitudinal movement thereof, a base for supporting a plurality of said bottles, a longitudinally extending endless belt mounted on spaced pulleys on one side of said base, means for rotating one of said .pulleys to operate said belt, a baradjustable laterally, of said device on the' other side of said base and extending longitudinally thereof, means'on said belt for frictionally engaging said bottles on one side thereof forimparting a rotatable and longitudinal movement thereto, said bar urging Said base, said rotatable movement being in a direction to tighten said caps on said bottles.

8. In a device for capping bottles :or other containers provided with threads at the openings aovaaaa' thereof for engagement with threaded caps, frictional means for imparting rotatable and longitudinal movement to said bottles relative to said device, and adiustable frictional means acting on the sides of said caps to hold said caps against 5 rotation and permitting a slidable longitudinal movement thereof when engaged by said bot tles, the rotatable movement of said bottles being in a direction to tighten said caps thereon.

9. In a device for capping bottles or other con- 10 tainers provided with threads at the openings thereqf for engagement with threaded caps, frictional means for imparting rotatable and lonv gitudinal movement to said bottles relative to .said,device, resilient means acting on the top of 15 said caps for urging an engaged "relation thereof withsaid bottles, and frictional means acting on the sides of 'said caps to hold-said caps against rotation and permitting a slidable longitudinal movement thereof when engaged by said bottles; 0 the rotatable movement of said bottles \being in a direction to tighten said capsthereon,

10. In a device for capping bottles or other containers provided with threads at the openings, thereof for engagement with threaded caps, fric- 25 tional means for imparting rotatable and longitudinal movement to said-bottles relative to said device, resilient means acting on the top of said caps for urging an engaged relation thereof with said bottles, and an adjustable bar extending 30 longitudinally of said device for frictionally engaging the sides of said caps to hold said caps against rotation and permitting a slidable longitudinal movement thereof when engaged by said bottles, the rotatable movement of said bottles being in a direction to tighten saidrcaps thereon.

11. In a device for capping bottles or other containers provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, frictional means for imparting rotatable and longi- '40 tudinal movement to said bottles relative to said device, resilient means acting on the top 'of said caps for urging an engaged relation thereof with said bottles, and a pair of spaced bars extending -longitudinally of said device, said caps being frictionally engagedbetween said bars to permit a gagement, said rotatable movement of said bottles being in a direction thereon. V 1

12. In a device for capping bottles or other containers provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, a base, for supporting a' plurality of bottles, a hopper for holding a plurality pf caps,- frictional means for imparting rotatable and longitudinal movement of said bottles along. said base, means for retaining successive caps from said hopper in the path of movement of said bottles at the threaded openings thereof, each of said bottles removing one'of said caps from said retaining device in the longitudinal movement thereof in position to be threadedly engaged, and frictional means acting on the sides of said caps to hold said caps against rotationand permitting a' slidable longitudinal movement thereof with said bottles, the rotatable movement of said bottles being in adirection to tighten said caps thereon. 7o 13. In a .device for capping bottles or other containers provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, a base for supporting a plurality of bottles, a hopto tighten said caps per for holding a plurality of caps, frictional 20 "per for holding a plurality of caps, frictional means for imparting rotatable and, longitudinal movement of said bottles along said base, means for retaining successive caps from said hopper in the pathof movement of said bottles at the threaded openings thereof, each of said bottles removing one of said caps from said retaining device in the longitudinal movement thereof in po-' sition to be threadedly engaged, resilient means acting on the topsfof said caps for urging the same against said threaded openings, and frictional means acting on the sides of said caps to hold said caps against rotation and permitting a slidable longitudinal movement thereof with said bottles, the rotatable movement of said f bottles being in a direction to tighten said caps thereon. V

14. In a device for capping bottles or other containers provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, a base for supporting a plurality of bottles, a hop- 1 means for imparting rotatable and longitudinal movement of said bottles along said, base, resilient fingers at the end of said hopper for holding successive caps therefrom at an angle to said bottles and in the path of movement thereof at the threaded openings, each of said bottles removing one of said caps against the tension of said resilient fingers in the longitudinal movement.thereof in position to be threadedly 'engaged, resilient means acting on the'tops of said caps for urging the same against said threaded openings, and frictional means acting on the sides of said caps to hold said caps against rotation and permitting a slidable longitudinal movement thereof with said bottles, the rotatable movement of said bottles being in a direction to tighten said caps thereon.

15. In a device for capping bottles or ,other containers provided with threads at the openings thereof for engagement with threaded caps, a base for supporting a plurality of bottles, a hopper for holding a plurality of caps, frictional means for-imparting rotatable and longitudinal movement of said bottles along said base, spaced fingers at the end of said hopper on which said caps may rest, a resilient finger above said spaced fingers cooperating therewith to retain successive caps from said hopper at an angle to said bottles and in the path of movement thereof, the threadedopening of said bottles passing between said spaced fingers and engaging the caps to remove the same from said cooperating fingers in position to be threadedly engaged, resilient means acting on the tops of said caps for urging the same against said threaded openings, and

frictional means acting on the sides of said caps and bottles in opposite directions to tighten said caps on said bottles.

WILLIAM R. CUTHBERT. PAUL MUNDELL. 

